EXECUTIVE  DOCUMENTS. 


No.    3 


O  () RRE S P O  ND EN  C  TC 


RELATING   TO   THK 


POST  OFFICE. 


CHARLESTON: 

STEAM-POWER    PRESSES    OF     EVANS     4     COGSWELL, 

•S  Broad  an  J  103  East  Bay  Streets.- 

1861. 


EXECUTIVE  DOCUMENTS. 


ISTo.    3. 


OORRESPON"DENOE 


RELATING  TO    THE 


POST  OFFICE. 


CHARLESTON: 

STEAM-POWER    PRESSES    OF    EVANS     i    COGSWELL, 
3  Broad  ind  103  East  Bay  Streets. 

1861. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Arciiive 
in  2010  with  funding  from 
Duke  University  Libraries 


http://www.archive.org/details/correspondencereOOsout 


ft  SH 


correspo:n^den^ce. 


No.  1. 


[letter    of    the    president,  through    HON.    J.    HOLT,    POST    MAS- 
TER   GENERAL    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES,    TO    THE    GOVERNOR.] 


Post  Office  Department, 

January  Uth,  1801. 

Sir  :  Relialilo  information  has  been  received  b}*  this  Depart- 
ment, tliat,  acting  under  the  powers,  chiimed  to  have  been  con- 
ferred upon  you  by  a  Convention  of  the  State  of  South  Caro- 
lina, you  have  recently'  imposed  upon  the  Post  Office  at 
Charleston  restrictions  which  are  in  derogation  of  the  laws  of 
the  United  States  and  of  the  rights  of  its  citizens.  It  is  alleged 
that  Major  Anderson  and  his  command,  now  in  the  occupation 
of  JFort  Sumter,  in  consequence  of  the  interposition  of  your 
Excellency,  arc  not  permitted  freely,  and  at  their  discretion,  to 
visit  the  Post  Office  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  and  transmit- 
ting their  correspondence,  but  are  absolutely  prevented  from 
doing  so ;  and  that  the  lettei's  and  papers  which,  of  late,  have 
occasionally  reached  them  through  the  mails,  have  been  ob- 
tained by  their  friends,  and  have  been  delivered  by  the  Post 
Master  under  an  order  granted  by  yourself,  not  in  acknowledg- 
ment of  a  right,  but  as  a  special  favor. 

This  proceeding  on  your  pai't,  so  unexpected  and  so  un})ar- 
alleled,  involves  a  violation  of  public  hnv  too  manifest  to  be 
discussed,  and  too  aggravated  to  be  endured. 

The  Government  of  the  United  States,  at  vast  expense,  sup- 
ports the  postal  service  in  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  for  the 
convenience  of  its  people,  and  it  cannot  submit  that  its  own 
officers,  and  those  obeying  its  authority,  shall  be  deprived  of 
the  use  of  the  mails,  thus  maintained  from  its  own    Trcasurv 


Its  reljitions  with  the  State  of  South  Carolina  are  those  of 
amity  and  good  will,  and  it  is  the  earnest  desire  of  the  Presi- 
dent that  they  may  continue  to  be  so,  and  that  all  causes  of 
irritation  may  be  avoided.  He,  therefore,  directs  me  to  express 
the  hope  that  you  will  re-consider  the  resolution  under  w^hich 
you  have  acted,  and  that  in  the  sjjirit  by  which  he  himself  is 
animated,  and  which  seeks  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  diflS^culty 
so  unhappily  subsisting,  you  will  promptly  remove  all  existing 
restraints  upon  the  Post  Office  at  Charleston,  and  upon  the 
intercourse  of  Major  Anderson  and  his  command  with  it. 
Should  you,  however,  decline  doing  so,  it  is  my  duty  to  inform 
you  that  this  office  will  be  regarded  as  having,  under  the  pres- 
sure of  the  local  Government,  lost  its  integrity,  and  being  no 
longer  entitled  to  the  confidence  or  support  of  the  Government 
of  the  United  States,  will,  at  once,  be  discontinued,  and  the 
postal  service  supplying  it  suspended.  The  question  will  be 
reserved  for  future  consideration,  how  much  further  than  this 
fidelity  to  the  administration  of  this  Department,  will  require 
this  suspension  to  be  extended.  A  free  interchange  of  commu- 
nication between  Major  Anderson  and  his  command,  and  this 
Government  and  their  friends,  the  President  feels  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  claim,  and  this  it  is  his  fixed  purpose  to  enforce.  He 
would  greatly  prefer  that  this  communication  should  be  effected 
through  the  instrumentalities  of  the  mails,  and  the  question  is 
now  submitted  to  your  Excellency  to  determine  whether  this 
preference  shall  prevail. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  HOLT, 

Post  Master  General. 

Mis  Excellency,  Francis  "W.  Pickens, 

Governor  of  South  Carolina. 


No.  2. 

[letter  of  the  governor  in  reply,  through  the  HON.  A.  G. 

magrath,  secretary  of  the  state  department.] 

State  of  South  Carolina, 
Executive  Office,  State  Department. 
Charleston,  16  January,  1861. 

Sir  :  Your  note  of  the  14th  January  has  been  received  by  the 
Governor  of  this  State,  and  he  has  directed  me  to  communicate 
to  you  his  reply. 

The  Convention  of  the  Peoph^  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina, 
among  other  Ordinances,  adopted  one  "  to  make  provisional 
Postal  Arrangements  in  South  Carolina."  A  copy  of  that 
Ordinance  you  will  find  in  the  proceedings  of  that  Convention, 
which  accompany  this  letter. 

The  terms  of  that  Ordinance  will  be  sufficient  to  show  you, 
that  the  "  reliable  information "  Avhich  has  been  received  by 
the  Post  Office  Department  at  \Yashington,  and  by  wliich  yoM 
have  been  notified  that  "  restrictions  have  been  recently  im- 
posed upon  the  Post  Office  at  Charleston"  is,  to  say  the  least  of 
it,  somewhat  inaccurate. 

The  Governor  does  not  consider  it  necessary  critically  to 
consider  the  terms  in  which  you  refer  to  the  power  under 
which  his  supposed  interference  was  exercised.  Nor  does  he 
deem  it  proper  to  explain  the  nature  of  the  authorit}'  which 
"the  laws  of  the  United  States"  have  in  this  State;  nor  to 
determine  what  are  the  rights  of  citizens  of  the  United  States 
within  the  limits  of  South  Carolina;  farther  than  by  saying, 
that  the  Ordinance  in  relation  to  Postal  Ai-rangements  pro- 
vides for  one  of  these  questions ;  and  the  Ordinance  of  Citi- 
zenship, a  cop3'  of  which  you  Avill  also  receive,  regulates  the 
other.  Future  arrangements  by  treaty  stipulation,  or  other- 
wise, may  and  probably  will  provide  for  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  such  privileges  within  the  limits  of  South  Carolina,  as 
are  not  inconsistent  with  its  safety. 

And  this  explanation  of  the  existing  relations  of  the  State  of 
South  Carolina  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  in 
connection  with  its  Postal  Arrangements,  the  Governor  pre- 
sumes will  be  satisfactory  to  you. 


6 

But  your  letter  also  expresses  the  complaint,  that  "  Major 
Anderson  and  his  command,  now  in  the  occupation  of  Fort 
Sumter,  are  not  permitted  freely  and  at  their  discretion  to  visit 
the  Post  Office,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  and  transmitting 
their  correspondence ;  but  are  absolutely  prevented  from  doing 
•so." 

The  question  of  affording  to  Major  Anderson  and  his  com- 
mand all  the  benefit  of  the  Post  Office  Department  at  Charles- 
ton, has  been  fully  considered;  and  is  involved  in  the  provisions 
of  the  Ordinance  of  the  Convention.  This,  of  course,  deter- 
mines for  the  G-overnor  his  duties  in  all  cases  which  arise  under 
that  Ordinance.  'Nov  has  the  privilege  of  Major  Anderson,  or 
his  garrison,  been  interrupted,  except  at  periods  when  the  con- 
duct of  the  Government  of  the  United  States  at  Washington, 
justified  the  conclusion  that  it  was  about  to  attempt  certain 
acts  of  coercion  in  relation  to  this  State;  concerning  which, 
whenever  attempted,  the  purpose  of  this  State  was  fullj^  under- 
stood by  the  Government  of  the  United  States  at  Washington. 
At  the  earliest  moment,  however,  when  it  was  proper,  because 
safe,  to  restore  to  Major  Anderson  and  his  command  the  privi- 
lege of  receiving  or  sending  mail  matter  through  the  Post 
Office  in  Charleston,  it  was,  and  has  been  done  so,  by  the  order 
of  the  Governor.  But  while  such  occasional  suspension  of  the 
privilege  claimed  for  Major  Anderson  and  his  garrison  was 
produced  by  the  acts  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States; 
causing  that  suspension  to  be  adopted  as  a  proper  act  of  de- 
fence, and  measure  of  precaution  in  behalf  of  the  State ;  the 
restoration  of  the  privilege  to  Major  Anderson  was  agreeable 
to  the  Governor;  because  it  was  in  accordance  with  the  wish 
of  the  Convention,  and  because  it  was  not  the  wish  of  the 
Governor  to  create  for  Major  Anderson,  or  his  command,  any 
circumstance  of  annoyance  or  inconvenience ;  but  not  because 
the  Governor  anticipated  "any  fixed  j)iirpoBe  of  the  President 
to  enforce"  it ;  and  certainly  not  because  at  the  time  when  the 
privilege  was  suspended,  the  Governor  could  well  understand 
how  the  President  of  the  United  States  was  "  under  a  duty  to 
claim"  it. 

The  actual  enjoyment  by  Major  Anderson  and  his  command 
of  the  privilege  of  receiving  and  sending  mail  matter  through 
the  Post  Office  at  Charleston  seems,  in  your  letter,  to  be  fur- 
ther connected  with  the  privilege,  "freely  and  at  their  discre- 


tion,"  to  visit  the  Post  Office,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  and 
transmitting  their  correspondence.  If  the  Governor  is  to  con- 
sider that,  in  your  letter,  jow  include,  in  the  privilege  of  receiv- 
ing and  forwarding  matter  by  the  mail,  the  privilege,  moreover, 
for  Major  Anderson  and  his  garrison  of  i^ersonall}'  going  to  and 
returning  from  the  Post  Office,  hoAvever  full  the  assurance 
ma}'  be  to  you,  that  without  this,  all  mail  matter  for  Major 
Anderson  is  furnished ;  then  and  in  that  view  of  your  letter, 
the  Governor  desires  me  to  say,  that  under  existing  circum- 
stances, it  cannot  with  propriety  be  granted. 

And  first,  as  to  the  assurance,  that  all  niail  matter  received 
at  the  Post  Office,  at  Charleston,  is  forwarded  to  Major  Andci'- 
son,  the  Governor  deems  it  only  necessary  to  say,  that  in  the 
Post  Office  at  Charleston,  there  is  in  and  over  the  transaction 
of  its  business,  neither  espionage  nor  tampering  with  letters, 
public  or  private.  And  it  is  understood  that  you  have  already 
received  from  the  Post  Master  at  this  place  such  explanations 
of  all  circumstances  connected  with  the  delivery  of  mail  mat- 
ter to  Major  Anderson  and  his  garrison,  as  ought  to  be  entirely 
satisfactory. 

The  certainty,  then,  Avhich  you  already  have  received,  that 
Major  Anderson  and  his  command  do  receive  all  matter  sent  to 
them  or  by  tiiem,  through  the  mail  at  this  place;  a  matter  con- 
cerning which  the  Governor,  in  now  making  this  explanation, 
gives  the  best  evidence  of  a  desire  not  to  add  to  the  causes  of 
irritation  existing  between  the  State  of  South  Carolina  and  the 
Government  of  the  United  States;  reduces  all  the  causes  of 
complaint  in  your  letter  to  the  particular  matter,  of  the  privi- 
lege for  Major  Anderson  and  his  garrison  "  freely  and  at  their 
discretion,"  to  visit  the  Post  Office.  And  this  the  Governor 
directs  me  to  repeat,  that  under  existing  circumstances,  you 
should  not  ask  it. 

It  has  been  plainl}- and  distinctly  communicated  to  tlie  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  that  the  continued  occupation  of 
Fort  Sumter  by  the  troops  of  the  United  States,  could  not  be 
regarded  as  consistent  with  the  dignity  or  safety  of  the  State 
of  South  Carolina.  A  continuance  in  that  occupation  on  the 
part  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  may,  with  the 
greatest  proprietj'",  be  characterized,  in  your  own  language, 
used,  however,  in  another  application,  as  a  proceeding  "  unex- 
pected and  unparalleled;"  which  "involves  a  violation  of  jjublie 


law  too  manifest  to  be  discussed,  and  too  aggravated  to  be 
endured." 

With  this  fixed  conviction  of  the  manner  in  which  that  occu- 
pation is,  and  must  be  regarded,  the  forbearance  of  the  Gover- 
nor has  been  exercised,  in  delaying  measures  which  involve  the 
waste  of  life:  with  the  earnest  hope  that  the  President  of  the 
United  States  would,  upon  a  re-consideration  of  the  whole 
question,  reach  a  conclusion  consistent  with  those  principles  of 
Civil  Liberty,  which  were  intended  to  be  promoted  by  the  Con- 
federation of  the  United  States. 

But  if  3'our  letter  is  rightly  understood,  the  President  must 
now  be  understood  as  claiming  a  right  for  the  enjoyment  of 
certain  privileges  in  and  over  the  soil  of  South  Carolina;  and 
demanding  a  quasi  transit  for  the  officers  and  troops  of  the 
United  States ;  for  a  purpose  not  necessarily,  nor  iiuder  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  case,  even  properly  accomjjlished  by  that 
transit.  And  when  so  demanded,  in  connection  with  a  purpose 
for  which  it  is  not  necessary ;  and  when  that  purpose  is  in  fact 
accomplished  without  it;  the  demand  must  be  regarded  as 
really  not  connected  with  such  purpose,  and  must  therefore  be 
considered  irrespective  of  it. 

You  cannot  be  unaware  of  the  fact,  that  however  much  the 
temper  of  the  people  of  South  Carolina  may  be  controlled 
under  the  peculiar  circumstances  which  now  surround  them ; 
you  have  no  right  to  ask  that  they  should  be  still  further  sub- 
jected to  constant  causes  of  irritation.  ISTor  does  the  Governor 
desire  to  enquire  upon  what  ground  you  demand  as  a  right, 
with  the  ''  fixed  purpose"  of  the  President  "  to  enforce"  it,  that 
which  will  expose  Major  Anderson  and  the  garrison  at  Fort 
Sumter  to  an  unpleasant  meeting  with  those  who,  a  few  weeks 
since,  regarded  them  as  friends ;  but  now  are  forced  to  consider 
them  as  the  instruments,  unwilling  though  it  may  be,  of  at- 
tempted oppression  and  wrong.  It  was  to  save  the  officei'S  of 
the  United  States  from  the  unpleasant  position  in  which  they 
must  feel  they  are  now  placed,  and  to  sjDare  the  people  of  the 
State  unnecessary  excitement,  that  the  Governor  suspended 
communication  between  Fort  Sumter  and  the  City,  except 
under  his  orders ;  and  that  Major  Anderson  and  his  garrison 
now  receive  all  matter  coming  to  them  through  the  mail  with- 
out displeasure  or  disquietude.  Of  all  this  the  Governor  under- 
stands you  have  received  full  information. 


For  what  purpose,  then,  you  should  claim  a  transit  for  Major 
Anderson  and  his  garrison  through  the  State,  the  Governor 
does  not  undertake  to  determine.  But  the  circumstances  now 
stated  are  sufficient,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Governor,  to  sustain 
him  in  saying,  that  it  is  what  you  should  not  ask. 

Your  application  involves  the  assertion  of  a  right  to  regulate 
the  conduct  of  the  authorities  of  this  State  ;  and  conti'ol  their 
discretion  in  regard  to  matters,  which  concern  the  dignity  of 
the  State  and  affect  the  peace  of  its  citizens.  This  cannot  be  ex- 
pected, nor  can  it  be  conceded.  With  as  much  reason  could 
it  be  required  that  a  transit  should  be  furnished  for  the  troops 
of  the  United  States  through  the  limits  of  the  State,  to  execute 
a  hostile  purpose  upon  the  people  of  Georgia  or  Florida.  The 
soil  of  the  State  was  free  from  the  conti'ol  of  the  Government 
while  it  was  one  of  the  United  States ;  and  that  exemption 
has  scarcely  been  lost,  because  it  has  dissolved  its  connection 
with  those  States. 

The  Governor  desires  me  to  say,  that  in  j'our  expression  of 
the  s])irit  with  Avhich  the  President  is  animated,  and  which 
"  seeks  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  difficulties  so  unhappily  sub- 
sisting," he  heartily  concurs ;  and  on  his  part,  no  eff'ort  consist- 
ent with  the  dut}'  he  owes  the  State,  will  be  spai^ed  to  avoid 
unnecessary  collision,  or  remove  the  causes  of  irritation  which 
now  exist.  And  when  he  declines  to  give  to  Major  Anderson 
and  his  garrison  the  permission  which  you  require,  he  does  so 
because  the  purpose  for  which  you  a.sk  it  is  accomplished,  and 
in  a  better  way,  without  it;  in  a  manner,  too,  which  the  Gov- 
ernor has  been  informed,  is  perfectly  agreeable  to  Major  Ander- 
son and  his  garrison ;  which  removes  all  causes  of  irritation ; 
and  which,  consistently  with  all  of  these,  maintains  the  dignity 
of  the  State,  and  secures  peace  to  its  citizens  by  preventing 
any  premature  collision.  In  all  of  these  respects,  it  should 
rather  be  regarded  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  with 
approbation,  and  command  his  concurrence ;  than  be  converted 
into  a  subject  of  complaint. 

The  Governor  desires  me,  in  conclusion,  to  say,  that  he  docs 
not  consider  it  necessary  to  make  any  further  reference  to  the 
threats  which  are  expressed  and  imjilied  in  j'our  letter,  than 
that  they  are  not  involved,  and  therelbre  do  not  affect  him,  in 
the  discussion  or  determination   of  any  portion    of  the   subject 

2 


10 

matter  of  your  letter.     To  them,  therefore,  no   reply  is  neces- 
sary. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  A.  G.  MAGRATH. 

Hon.  J.  Holt, 

Post  Master  General, 

Washington,  D.  C. 


No.  3. 

[letter    of    HON.    A.     IIUOER    TO    HON.    J.    HOLT.] 

Post  OrriCE, 
Charleston,  Jajiuary  12th,  1861. 
Hon.  J.  Holt  : 

Sir:  Your  own  of  the  10th  is  just  received.  When  commu- 
nication between  the  city  and  Fort  Sumter  was  first  interrupt- 
ed. Governor's  words  to  me  in  person,  "  under  intense  excite- 
ment and  in  order  to  avoid  collision  between  unauthorized 
parties,"  distinction  was  made,  by  order  of  Governor  Pickens 
in  two  instances,  between  official  and  private  letters  for  Major 
Anderson.  Subsequently,  this  decision  seems  to  have  been 
re-considered,  and  I  now  send  all  mail  matter  for  Major  Ander- 
son and  for  his  command,  under  sealed  cover  from  this  office  j 
and  continue  to  do  so  to  this  day,  as  opportunity  occurs;  and 
I  do  so  without  "surveillance  of  the  Post  Office  or  other  author- 
ity at  Charleston."  I  can  only  say,  that  if  such  letters  have 
been  sent  to  this  office,  they  were  dropped  in  without  my 
knowledge.  Had  they  been  delivered  to  me,  I  would  have  for- 
warded them  as  all  other  matter  is  forwarded. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

ALFRED  HUGBR,  P.  M. 


11 

No.  4. 

[letter  op    HON.  W.  W.    HARLLEE    to    major   ROBERT    ANDERSON.] 

State  of  South  Carolina, 
Post  Office  and  Customs  Bureau, 

Charleston,  January  13?A,  1861. 
To  Major  Eobert  Anderson, 

Commanding  Fort  Sumter : 
Sir  :  I  am  instinietcd  by  his  Excellency,  Govci'nor  Pickens, 
to  propose  that,  for  the  present,  you  establish  communication 
with  Fort  Johnson,  under  command  of  Captain  Johnson,  every 
day  or  every  other  (.\a.y,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  and  for- 
warding the  mails  for  3'our  command.  By  sending  your  boat 
to  Fort  Johnson  at  twelve  o'clock,  m.,  you  will  receive  your 
mails  under  sealed  cover  from  Mr.  Ilugcr,  the  Post  Master  here, 
from  Captain  Johnson,  and  can  have  delivered  to  Captain  J. 
the  mail  matter  you  wish  forwarded.  This  suggestion  is  made 
with  the  view  of  avoiding  any  collision  which,  in  the  present 
excited  state  of  feeling,  might  occur,  by  3'our  boat  coming  to 
the  city.  If  the  arrangement  meets  your  approbation,  you 
will  please  signify  it  by  replying,  and  the  proper  orders  wall 
be  given  for  executing  it.  I  send  herewith  a  letter  left  by  R. 
N.  Gourdin  for  jon  prior  to  his  leaving  for  Washington  last 
night. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be. 

Very  respectfully, 

W.  W.  UAELLEE. 


No.  5. 

[letter   of    major   ROBERT   ANDERSON    TO    HON.   W.  W.    HARLLEE.] 

Fort  Sumter,  January  loth,  18(51. 
Hon.  TV.  W.  IIarllee, 

Post  Office  and  Customs  Bureau. 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receijit  of  your 
note  of  this  date,  and  to  state  in  reply,  that  the  arrangement 
suggested  meets  my  appi'oval,  and  that  as  soon  as  informed 
that  the  proper  instructions  have  been  given,  I  will  have  my 
mail  matter  delivered  as  suggested. 
I  am,  Sir, 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

ROBBIIT  ANDERSON, 

f 

Major  U  S.  Army. 


12 

No.  6. 

[letter    of    HON.  \¥.  W.  HARLLEE    TO    MAJOR    ROBERT    ANDERSON.] 

State  of  South  Carolina, 
Post  Office  and  Customs  Bureau. 
Charleston,  January  14,  1861. 
Major  EoBERT  Anderson, 

Commanding  at  Fort  Sumter. 
Sir  :  By  direction  of  the  Governor,  I  enclose  copy  of  an 
order  to  Captain  Joseph  Johnson,  commanding  at  Fort  John- 
son, in  respect  to  the  mail  matter  to  and  from  your  command. 
The  order  will  be  taken  to  Captain  Johnson  by  tbe  Boat  which 
takes  this  to  you,  and  you  can  proceed  to  act  under  it.  The 
mails  to-day  are  sent  j^ou  from  the  Post  Office. 

The    enclosed   communication    was   received   to-day  by  his 
Excellency,  which  he  instructs  me  to  forward  you. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be. 

Very,  respectfully,  &c., 

W.  W.  HARLLEE. 


No.  7. 

[letter    of    HON.    W.    W.    HARLLEE    TO    HON.    A.    HUGER.] 

State  of  South  Carolina, 
Post  Office  and  Customs  Bureau. 
Charleston,  January  15,  18G1. 
A.  Huger,  Esq., 

Post  Master,  Charleston,  S.  C. 
Sir  :  Arrangements  have  been  made  to  send  the  mails  for 
the  command  of  Major  Anderson,  daily,  to  Fort  Johnson,  and 
to  receive  his  mails  there  for  forwarding. 

You  will,  therefore,  please  deliver  to   Quarter  Master  Gen- 
eral Hatch,  or  his  order,  the  mails,  under  sealed  cover,  for  the 
command  at  Fort  Sumter,  dail}'-,  until  otherwise  advised. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully, 

W.  W.  HAELLEE. 


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